Patents Examined by Christopher Von Benken
  • Patent number: 7268575
    Abstract: A method includes measuring a gate leakage current of at least one transistor. A single stress bias voltage is applied to the at least one transistor at a given temperature for a stress period t. The stress bias voltage causes a 10% degradation in a drive current of the transistor at the given temperature within the stress period t. A negative bias temperature instability (NBTI) lifetime ? of the transistor is estimated based on the measured gate leakage current and a relationship between drive current degradation and time observed during the applying step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chia-Lin Chen, Ming-Chen Chen